Post on 25-May-2021
NewsletterSeptember 2020
LSRN 2020/21Revised arrangementsA new LSRN National Planning Group has now been formed. It comprises eight LSRN convenors from across the country and is chaired by Jo Fletcher -Saxon, Greater Manchester convenor. It will coordinate the programme during the year with a view to creating a regular sequence of online events led by different convenors. Norman Crowther, Kelly Kettlewell, Andrew Morris and Anne Thompson, are acting as an Advisory group to ensure continuity and adherence to the LSRN’s values and purposes.
We look forward to a lively year with online delivery of events allowing greater numbers of people to participate.
New LSRN networkHants and Dorset
Luz Gutierrez Mendoza, based in Bournemouth, is the convenor of a new LSRN network in the south, serving Hampshire and Dorset. The network is keen
to hear from anyone interested in FE and Skills research in the area. Contact: Luz at l.gutierrez.14@ucl.ac.uk
LSRN East AngliaBlog
A blog by LSRN’s East Anglia convenor Ian Duckett was recently featured in SET News and refers to East Anglia LSRN’s current project on Ways of Engaging. Ian writes:
“If ever there was a time for doing things differently, it is now. Education in the time of Covid-19 is crying out for an engagement or re-engagement programme.
The Ways of Engaging project started with work in alternative education provision and is currently the subject of an LSRN project in East Anglia. Some of the activities will be further trialed in this project with Norfolk YMCA in Norwich.” For details see Ian’s blog.
Events
The LSRN newsletter will appear a little more frequently during the coming academic year – approximately twice per term. Send in information about research for the next issue by 15th October to a.j.morris@ucl.ac.uk and paulajones1580@gmail.com
West Midlands LSRN Online researchmeet
The new convenor of LSRN West Midlands, Kerry Scattergood, is giving advanced notice of a pair of online #FEVirtualResearchMeets on Friday 22nd Jan and Friday 29th Jan 2021. People from any part of the UK (or world!) are invited to participate. Further details nearer the time. Contact: Kerry.Scattergood@solihull.ac.uk
AELPBusiness Recovery Conference
Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th September.
AELP have scheduled the conference so that timely and robust sector and economic data will be available. AELP are also hopeful that the conference will follow the lifting of lockdown, at a time when organisations have had time to re-establish their working patterns. For further information https://na.eventscloud.com/website/15018/
The Further Education Tutorial Network (FETN) Annual Conference
20th November 2020: Live on-line
The FETN Conference is going virtual in 2020. Here is the link to the webpage with more information. FETN is also re-starting fortnightly online discussions for FETN members on 16th September 2020 and the topic will be ‘Essential Skills & Qualities for Effective Tutoring’. Here is the link if you would like to take a look.
Education and EmployersInternational research conference
The call for papers for our next international research conference is now live. Details are here:
https://www.educationandemployers.org/research/employer-engagement-preparing-young-people-for-the-future/
OECD with Education & EmployersLaunch of Education at a Glance 2020
Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills, will take part in the first-ever virtual launch of Education at a Glance which is being organised in collaboration with Education and Employers. The event will start with Andreas unveiling the latest data on the performance of education systems in the UK and across other OECD countries, which will be followed by a discussion on vocational education and training and the opportunity for you to take part and ask questions.
Date: 8 September 2020 Time: 12:00-13:00 Format: Webinar and Q&A
An expert panel will discuss the role of VET in the post-coronavirus world and what steps need to be taken. Panellists:
Yousra Assali, WorldSkills Champions Trust Regional Representative, Middle East and North Africa
Prisha Bathia, Digital Marketing Apprentice, Google UK
Jennifer Coupland, Chief Executive, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, England
Sebastian Henke, Director Human Resources, Optima, Germany
Keith Smith, Director for Post 16 Skills and Strategy, Department for Education, England
Moderated by Nick Chambers, Chief Executive, Education and Employers
Click here to join the launch. To participate in our online poll before the event, use this link to answer three questions about young people and VET.
Research
ETF and SUNCETTPractitioner Research Programme 2020/21
Applications are now open for the 2020-2021 ETF Practitioner Research Programme. Delivered by the ETF in association with SUNCETT at the University of Sunderland, it accepts applications from practitioners across the sector interested in researching their own practice. Participants are supported to develop their research skills and deepen their understanding of the relationship between educational research, theory and practice. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 18 September 2020.
Apply here
Centre for Longitudinal Studies at UCL Institute of Education Newly released data available
Study of millennial generation
Newly released survey variables for Next Steps sweeps 1-7 (ages 14-20) are now available to download from the UK Data Service under the standard End User Licence (EUL).
This release is a major enhancement to the study data. It will give researchers easier access to data previously available only under restricted access, including information related to ethnicity, family background, and qualifications. It will also provide researchers with newly released datasets, opening up opportunities for research into higher education, training, employment and income for the millennial generation and members of their household.
Find out more https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/newly-released-data-available-for-study-of-millennial-generation/
Publications
Education Development Trust New reportYouth transitions: creating pathways to success
By Dr Deirdre Hughes and Dr Graeme Smith
Around the world, young people face considerable challenges. Even before the disruption of the Covid-19 crisis, policymakers were seeking to respond to rapid technological advances, climate change and – in some countries – an ageing population and workforce. While children and young people worldwide generally have high aspirations and ambitions for their futures, evidence shows that they often face problematic and protracted transitions into work. In this context, new pathways from school to employment are needed. In this paper, we review extensive evidence to provide guidance on how children and young people can be best prepared to succeed in their school-to-work transitions, both now and in the future.
https://www.educationdevelopmenttrust.com/our-research-and-insights/research/youth-transitions-creating-pathways-to-success
NCVER in AustraliaInternational comparisonIndustry involvement in the development and delivery of vocational education and training (VET) is seen as crucial to ensure students have the relevant skills that employers need. The global skills dilemma: how can supply keep up with demand? The Hays Global Skills Index 2019/20 is an annual assessment of the trends that impact labour markets and how easy or hard it is for organisations to find the skilled employees they need. The 2019/20 index found, as in previous years, issues such as 'talent mismatch' - the gap between the skills held by job seekers and the skills sought by employers - worsening in many labour markets: the Index's talent mismatch indicator has increased in
almost half of the countries included in the report. Industry’s involvement in the VET sector ensures students are developing appropriate skill-sets for existing job vacancies. This issue of Focus on presents current research discussing industry involvement in VET in the UK, Europe and New Zealand.
See https://www.voced.edu.au/focus-industry-VET
FETLReport
Blame or betterment? Regulation and intervention in further education
This report explores the regulatory system within which providers operate and asks whether the prevailing system, with its tendency to focus blame on institutions and individuals, is conducive to sector improvement, and, ultimately, better teaching and learning.
Blame or betterment? Regulation and intervention in further education, written by Stephen Exley, former TES Further Education Editor, and commissioned by FETL, combines analysis of government data and interviews with further education leaders in evaluating what obstacles that stand in the way of a genuinely ‘self-improving’ system and how they might be overcome. His thoughtful analysis reveals leaders’ experience of regulation to be highly varied, with some finding it overbearing and ‘terrifying’ and others praising its ‘light touch’ and ‘generosity’.
Click here to read
OfqualSurvey report
Perceptions of vocational and technical qualifications - wave 3
This report presents the findings of wave 3 of the Perceptions of Vocational and Technical Qualifications Survey and should be read alongside the background information document. To best appreciate the display of the data, this report should be viewed in colour.
The project was commissioned by Ofqual and conducted by YouGov. The aim of this project was to investigate learners’, employers’ and all types of providers’ perceptions of vocational and technical qualifications in England. The survey also explored perceptions of a number of topical aspects of the system for vocational and technical qualifications.
Click here to read
Monash University Report
Quality Use of Research Evidence project
The Quality Use of Research Evidence (QURE) Framework report was released last week. It is a product of the large-scale Q Project involving schools in Australia with Monash University, directed by Mark Rickinson.
The conceptual framework defines and elaborates what ‘quality use of research evidence’ might mean in education. It is intended as a resource for anyone who is interested in improving the use of research evidence within and across all levels of schools and school systems. This could include teachers, school and system leaders, teacher educators, policy-makers, researchers and research brokers.
It is based on analysis and synthesis of 111 relevant research publications from the health, social care, policy, and education sectors, coupled with regular
feedback from project partners and stakeholders in response to early versions of the framework.
https://www.monash.edu/education/research/projects/qproject/publications/quality-use-of-research-evidence-framework-qure-report
Education and EmployersShort history
Education and Employers recently published:
A short history of employer engagement.
Click here to read
CEDEFOP EU-wide Report
The importance of being vocational: challenges and opportunities for VET in the next decade
This paper, jointly prepared by Cedefop and the ETF, aims to inform the next steps in VET policy- making at EU level, including the Osnabruck declaration expected to be discussed by ministers in the autumn of 2020. It puts forward key challenges and opportunities for VET which have emerged from the intelligence, research and evidence collected over the years by the two agencies, each within its own remit and geographic scope.
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/publications/4186?NL=102
Engineering UKSurvey report
Engineering Young people and Covid-19
Published in August 2020, this briefing presents the findings of a survey of young people (aged 11 to 19) undertaken in summer 2020.
The survey revealed that for many young people the pandemic has raised concerns about what the future may hold and the opportunities that may be available to them. It has also affected the factors they now consider important in making career decisions.
The survey has also provided insight into what and to what extent young people have been accessing careers activities and STEM engagement activities during lockdown. Our results show that while young people have sought out careers advice, this has predominantly come in the form of searching for information online or speaking to parents, with under a quarter having taken part in any formal careers education during lockdown, of which less than half was STEM-related.
Key findings:
The pandemic is deepening gender differences in career aspirations in engineering or technology
The gender gap when it comes to choosing a career in engineering or technology is still very much prevalent
Young people are concerned going to university or becoming an apprentice will be more difficult in the future
Job security and job availability are important factors for young people when considering their future career choicesUK
https://www.engineeringuk.com/research/briefings/young-people-and-covid-19/
LSRN informationLSRN regional and local area contacts
Hampshire & Dorset Luz Gutierrez Menendezl.gutierrez.14@alumni.ucl.ac.uk
Bristol area Amy Woodrow amy.woodrow@cityofbristol.ac.uk
South West Wales Bryony Evett Bryony.Evett@colegsirgar.ac.uk
South East Wales Jodie Reesjodie.rees@southwales.ac.uk
Kent James Snyder snyder.webmaster@gmail.com
London Sai Loo S.Loo@ioe.ac.uk
and Rania HafezR.Hafez@greenwich.ac.uk
NE London & Essex Philip Lawrence Philip.Lawrence@candi.ac.uk
Beds, Bucks and Herts Sam Jones sjones@bedford.ac.uk
East Anglia Ian Duckettianjduckett1@btinternet.com
East Midlands vacancy
West Midlands Craig Tucker ctucker@halesowen.ac.uk
Greater Manchester area Jo Fletcher-Saxon jo.fletcher-saxon@asfc.ac.uk
Yorkshire & Humberside Rachel Terry R.Terry@hud.ac.uk
Lancashire, Cumbria and Peter Shukie Merseyside Peter.Shukie@blackburn.ac.uk
North East vacancy
LSRN website